• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.82-89
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• 2009

Two in vitro experiments were conducted to examine the effects of propionate precursors in the dicarboxylic acid pathway on ruminal fermentatation characteristics, $CH_4$ production and degradation of feed by rumen microbes. Fumarate or malate as sodium salts (Exp. 1) or acid type (Exp. 2) were added to the culture solution (150 ml, 50% strained rumen fluid and 50% artificial saliva) to achieve final concentrations of 0, 8, 16 and 24 mM, and incubated anaerobically for 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h at $39^{\circ}C$. For both experiments, two grams of feed consisting of 70% concentrate and 30% ground alfalfa (DM basis) were prepared in a nylon bag, and were placed in a bottle containing the culture solution. Addition of fumarate or malate in both sodium salt and acid form increased (p<0.0001) pH of culture solution at 3, 6, 9 and 12 h incubations. The pH (p<0.0001) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA, p<0.05) were enhanced by these precursors as sodium salt at 3, 6 and 9 h incubations, and pH (p<0.001) and total VFA (p<0.01) from fumarate or malate in acid form were enhanced at a late stage of fermentation (9 h and 12 h) as the addition level increased. pH was higher (p<0.001) for fumarate than for malate as sodium salt at 3 h and 6 h incubations. Propionate ($C_3$) proportion was increased (p<0.0001) but those of $C_2$ (p<0.05) and $C_4$ (p<0.01 - p<0.001) were reduced by the addition of sodium salt precursors from 3 h to 12 incubation times while both precursors in acid form enhanced (p<0.011 - p<0.0001) proportion of $C_3$ from 6h but reduced (p<0.018 - p<0.0005) $C_4$ proportion at incubation times of 1, 3, 9 and 12 h. Proportion of $C_3$ was increased (p<0.05 - p<0.0001) at all incubation times by both precursors as sodium salt while that of $C_3$ was increased (p<0.001) from 6h but $C_4$ proportion was decreased by both precursors in acid form as the addition level increased. Proportion of $C_3$ was higher (p<0.01 - p<0.001) for fumarate than malate as sodium salt from 6 h incubation but was higher for malate than fumarate in acid form at 9 h (p<0.05) and 12 h (p<0.01) incubation times. Increased levels (16 and 24 mM) of fumarate or malate as sodium salt (p<0.017) and both precursors in acid form (p<0.028) increased the total gas production, but no differences were found between precursors in both chemical types. Propionate precursors in both chemical types clearly reduced (p<0.0001 - p<0.0002) $CH_4$ production, and the reduction (p<0.001 - p<0.0001) was dose dependent as the addition level of precursors increased. The $CH_4$ generated was smaller (p<0.01 - p<0.0001) for fumarate than for malate in both chemical types. Addition of fumarate or malate as sodium type reduced (p<0.004) dry matter degradation while both precursors in both chemical types slightly increased neutral detergent fiber degradability of feed in the nylon bag.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2009

Metabolic trial with 3 fistulated sheep was conducted in a 3 $\times$ 3 Latin square design and feeding trial with 24 Hanwoo steers in 12 month of age for 20 months was conducted to investigate the replacing effect of rice straw with fermented spent mushroom (Flammuliua velutipes) compost (FSMC) on fermentation characteristics, ruminal effective degradabilty and whole tract digestibility of nutrients in sheep, and to examine the growth performance of Hanwoo steers. Experimental diets for the metabolic trial with sheep were commercial concentrates and rice straw in the ratio of 70 : 30 (CON, DM basis). Same concentrate with 30% FSMC and 70% rice straw (FSMC-30) and 60% FSMC and 40% rice straw(FSMC-60). Diets for Hanwoo steers in three treatments were same as for metabolic trial in replacing ratio of rice straw with FSMC. pH of rumen fluid in sheep was not affected by FSMC. Ammonia-N content in the rumen fluid was highest in the sheep fed FSMC-60 at 3h (P<0.045). The CON diet increased (P<0.001) acetate proportion at 1h and 3h post feeding compared to FSMC-60 diet while propionate proportion was highest in the sheep fed FSMC-60 diet for all the sampling times (P<0.027~P<0.002). Increased proportion of butyrate was observed at 30 min prior to feeding (P<0.031), and 1h (P<0.011) and 6h(P<0.039) post feeding from sheep fed FSMC-30 diet compared to those from sheep fed other diets. Effective degradability in the rumen was not influenced by experimental diets. Whole tract digestibility of crude protein (P<0.031) and neutral detergent fiber (P<0.006) tended to be increased in the sheep fed CON diet while corresponding values were lowest in the sheep fed FSMC-60 diet. Total body weight gain of Hanwoo steers for 8 months was not different among diets, thus daily body gain was not influenced by the experimental diets.